Aberdeen - Angus

A Complete Package

Aberdeen - Angus (most commonly known these days as Angus)

There are two strains in the Angus breed - Black and Red - We cover the Black strain and then the Red strain later.

The genetic advantage of Angus cattle became apparent shortly after the black-hided breed made its debut in the United States in 1873. Since that time, prudent cattlemen everywhere have recognised the Angus breed's ability to introduce functionality and value into their herds, while cutting operating costs, reducing time and labour requirements, balancing traits and boosting profits.

Today's evolving beef cattle landscape is no exception. Each cattleman has his or her own unique set of herd requirements, depending on the environment, herd size, local markets and available resources. Versatile needs call for a versatile breed, and no other can offer a more well-rounded genetic offering.

Angus has a solution for almost every need, and in an industry where breed selection influences important factors such as growth rate, maternal ability and end-product specifications, choosing quality seed-stock is imperative.

History

The Angus breed of cattle is originally from the highlands of Northern Scotland, in the countries or "shires" of Angus and Aberdeen. (In many parts of the world today, Angus cattle are known as Aberdeen - Angus). The first Angus bulls were brought to the United States in 1873 by George Grant, a native Scotsman, who bought four Angus Bulls for use on his ranch near Victoria, Kansas.

Polled cattle apparently existed in Scotland before recorded history because the likeness of such cattle is found in prehistoric carvings of Aberdeen and Angus. Historians state that there were hornless cattle in Siberia centuries earlier. A hornless race of cattle was depicted in Egypt by sculptors and painters of that ancient civilisation. Some historians feel that the Aberdeen - Angus breed and the other Scottish breeds sprang from the aboriginal cattle of the country and that the breeds as we find them today are indigenous to the districts in which they are still found.

Two strains were used in the formation of what later became known as the Aberdeen - Angus breed of cattle. In the county of Angus, cattle had existed for some time, that were known as Angus doddies. MacDonald and Sinclair quote the Rev. James Playfair as having written in 1797, "There are 1 129 horned cattle of all ages and sexes in the parish. I have no other name to them; but many of them are dodded, wanting horns." This seems to be the first authentic reference to polled cattle in the county of Angus, apart from ancient sculptures.

These cattle were apparently early valued as work oxen, as were most of the other strains of cattle that later acquired various breed names. MacDonald and Sinclair believed that polled cattle were found in Aberdeen in the 16th Century.

The presence of polled cattle in Aberdeenshire 400 years ago is proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, and it may generally be taken for granted that they were co-existent in various parts of northeastern Scotland, their purity being contingent on the degree of care exercised in breeding.

Apparently, little attention was given to the breeding of cattle before the middle of the 18th century, but in the last half of the century, great progress was made in Scottish agriculture. It is not strange that, as farming practices were improved, men likewise sought to improve the livestock on their farms. It was only natural that breeders, in improving their cattle, would use cattle of similar kinds from adjacent areas, and as a result, the cattle of the Angus doddie strain and the Buchan humlie strain were crossed. Crossing and recrossing these strains of cattle eventually led to a distinct breed that was not far different from either type, since the two strains were originally of rather a similar type and colour pattern.

By the beginning of the 19th century, the polled cattle of the Buchan district had attained considerable favour as market cattle for the production of carcass beef. Among the polled herds of Aberdeenshire that were famous for such production in the early 1800s were those of Messrs. Williamson of St. John's Wells and Robert Walker of Wester Fintray. The Williamson herd later supplied the herd of Tillyfour. In Angus, the herds of William Fullerton, Lord Panmure, Lord Southesk, and Alexander Bowie contributed many of the Angus doddies that later became prominent in the breed. Robert Walker of Portlethen seems to have been the principal cattle breeder in Kincardineshire.

The Contribution of Hugh Watson. If any one person can be singled out as the founder of a breed of livestock, Hugh Watson of Keillor, who lived in the vale of Strathmore in Angus, is worthy of that distinction. If not the first real improver of Aberdeen - Angus cattle, he was certainly the most systematic and successful. Both his father and grandfather had been buyers and breeders of the Angus doddies. The family is known to have owned cattle as early as 1735. Hugh Watson was born in 1789 and, in 1806, at the time he was 19 years of age, he became a tenant at Keillor.

When Hugh Watson started his farming activities at Keillor, he received from his father's herd, six of the best and blackest cows, as well as a bull. That same summer, he visited some to the leading Scottish cattle markets and purchased the 10 best heifers and the best bull that he could find that showed characteristics of the Angus cattle that he was striving to breed.

The females were of various colours, but the bull was black; Watson decided that the colour of his herd should be black and he started selecting in that direction. Mr Watson's favourite bull was Old Jock 126 (1), who was awarded the number "1" in the Herd Book at the time it was founded. The bull was bred by Watson in 1842 and was sired by Grey-Breasted Jock 113 (2). The bull apparently was used very heavily in the herd from 1843 until 1852 and was awarded the sweepstakes for bulls at the Highland Society Show at Perth in 1852, when he was 11 years old.

A very famous cow also made considerable history in the herd at Keillor. This cow was Old Granny 125 (1), who was calved in 1824 and was killed by lightning at 35 years of age. She is reported to have produced a total of 29 calves, 11 of which were registered in the Herd Book.

A very large percentage of our living Aberdeen - Angus cattle trace to either Old Granny or Old Jock, or both of these very famous foundation animals, and most would trace many times if their pedigrees were extended to the foundation of the breed.

Hugh Watson practised the fitting and showing of his cattle more than was common by other breeders of his day. He made his first exhibition at the Highland Agricultural Society Show at Perth in 1829. During his long show career, he is said to have won over 500 prizes with his cattle and did a great deal to increase the popularity of the black polled cattle over the British Isles.

William McCombie of Tillyfour is regarded as the preserver and great improver of the Aberdeen - Angus breed. Fullerton and others had started the blending of the two types of cattle, which later became known as the Aberdeen - Angus, but this success was enlarged at Tillyfour. The master of Tillyfour was born in 1805 and died in the spring of 1880. Like his father before him, he had been a successful dealer in cattle before he began his operations in 1829 as a tenant farmer.

Mr McCombie is distinguished in the history of the Aberdeen - Angus breed because of his great foresight in planning matings, his careful management, his unparalleled success in the show ring, and in publicising his famous cattle. Probably his crowning success in the show ring was at the great International Exposition held in Paris in 1878. There he won the first prize of $500 as an exhibitor of cattle from a foreign country and also the grand prize of $500 for the best group of beef-producing animals bred by any exhibitor.

Not only did Mr McCombie show in breeding classes but he also exhibited in steer classes at the market shows. Probably the most famous steer that he produced was the famous show animal Black Prince, who won at the Birmingham and Smithfield shows in 1867 when he was four years of age.

From the latter show, he was taken to Winsor Castle for the personal inspection by Queen Victoria, and later her Majesty accepted some Christmas beef from the carcass of the steer.

The English Crown has long been interested in livestock improvement, and Queen Victoria paid a personal visit to Tillyfour a year or two after the visit the famous Black Prince to the castle. Such a tribute to an outstanding breeder naturally attracted great attention to the already famous herd. McCombie had the further distinction of being the first tenant farmer in Scotland to be elected to the House of Commons.

Aberdeen - Angus history may fairly be divided into two periods; the first, before William McCombie's time; the second, since. That is as good as any other way of saying that the Master of Tillyfour - recognized cattle king of his day and generation in Aberdeen - Angus and of all Scotland - stands a very colossus upon any canvas which accurately portrays the original arrival of black cattle as a factor of world importance in the field of prime beef production.

William McCombie always had utility in mind in producing his cattle, and his ideal beast seems to have been one with size, symmetry, and balance, yet with the strength of constitution and disposition at accumulate flesh. Although his original stock was gathered from many sources and his purchases were many, Mr McCombie's outstanding acquisition was probably the good yearling heifer Queen Mother 41 (348) at the Ardestie Sale.

Mr McCombie purchased the bull Hanton 80 (228), calved in 1853, from the breeder Alexander Bowie. This bull was a grandson of Old Jock 126 (1) and was said to have weighed a tonne at maturity. Despite the fact that he had scurs, he was a great show bull and was exhibited widely by Me. McCombie.

The bull's success, however, was more pronounced in the breeding pen, and he probably made his greatest contribution to the breed through his double grandson, Black Prince of Tillyfour 77(366), calved in 1860. Few, if any, of the cattle, are living today, that do not trace at least a dozen times to Black Prince of Tillyfour. It is difficult to say how much contribution Mr McCombie made to the Aberdeen - Angus breed through his successes in the show ring, but his outstripped all of his competition in England, Scotland, and France. Consequently, the name of Aberdeen - Angus became known on an international basis. It was on the farm of William McCombie that the Aberdeen - Angus breed really took shape, because prior to his time, people spoke of the cattle as Aberdeen and Angus. In his herd was found the justification for leaving out the "and" and replacing it with the hyphen that has become familiar.

Another very famous Aberdeen - Angus herd in Scotland was that of Ballindalloch, but the origin of this herd is lost in the mists of antiquity. It was probably first founded by Sir John MacPherson Grant, but it was not until the time the farm came into the hands of Sir George, a son, that systematic breeding was started. Sir George drew heavily on Tillyfour cattle in establishing his herd.

It was very fortunate for the breed that the Ballindalloch herd was kept in the family for over three generations. The main herd was dispersed on August 8, 1934, but it had already left a great imprint on the Aberdeen - Angus world. Not only was the Ballindalloch herd the outstanding herd in Scotland, but it must also be given credit for having furnished a great deal of very valuable foundation stock to the herds of the United States and other foreign countries.

When encapsulating the origin and breed it is unnecessary to plunge deeply into the undergrowth of the distant past to show that if any breed can claim to meet the requirements of the modern age in the character of its product, it is the Angus. Considering its achievements, it might have evolved within the last hundred years. After the union of England and Scotland in 1707 many northern farmers began exporting their surplus cattle to England graziers. This led to a great demand of what was to become known as Prime Scots beef in London. By 1795, with the French Revolution raging, the price of grain soared, and this pushed the demand for beef in England to even higher levels. Scottish farmers soon learned they could earn more by finishing their own cattle and this caused the specialised production of their native polled stock as meat animals. This is why Angus is known as the only pure breed in the world bred exclusively for beef since its beginning.

By 1901, they were registering more pedigree cattle than in Britain and now register 40 times more. Very soon the breed was to be found in other English-speaking countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and in South America, especially Argentina. Today, all those countries have greater populations of pure Aberdeen - Angus than the British Isles.

During the first half of the 20th century, Britain was regarded as the fount of Aberdeen - Angus genetics and leading breeders came here, and to the Perth February sales in particular, for seed stock. The export market was most rewarding. However, over this period, the size of the cattle was reduced to the disadvantage of commercial producers here and overseas. The 1960's saw the introduction to the UK of large muscle draught-bred Continental cattle and the marketing of beef through supermarkets where quality was neglected in the interest of the economy. At the same time, the need for growthier cattle was recognised worldwide and our export markets rapidly disappeared. The breed in the 1960's found itself facing difficult times. Some progress was made by selecting larger types among British, and particularly Irish, lines and a few good New Zealand and Australian imports also made their mark.

But the salvation has been found in North America. Our Herd Book records its first Canadian imports in 1972. Unable for veterinary reasons to import live from the USA, we have over the last 25 years brought in a considerable number of males and females from Canada, in many cases these being offspring of leading performance recorded American sires. Semen and Embryos have come in direct from the USA.

Today the breed is a blend of these North American bloodlines of Scottish pedigree and the British lines. We have the calving ease and the temperament, the fleshing and the marbling that makes us the most popular temperate beef breed in the world.

For British breeders, the only market is the commercial beef producer, and through them the consumers of the best beef. These breeders have at their disposal the old tools of breeding and selection which were used at Keillor, Tillyfour and Ballindalloch plus the techniques of AI and embryo transplant, and the aid of sophisticated performance records.

Why Angus?

The Angus mothering instinct is very strong, as is the calf's instinct to get up and suck within the first few moments after birth.

The Angus cow does her job well, whether it's her first or her fourteenth calf. Stayability (a cow's continuing ability to bear calves) is more than just a word with Angus - it's not unusual for 12 and 13 year old Angus cows to be productive.

Superior feed conversion:The market is calling for carcasses with more marbling in order to satisfy consumer demand. The heritability of marbling is moderately high. The correlation between marbling and tenderness is also moderately high so when cattle producers select for marbling, tenderness improves. Using Angus cattle with their superior marbling ability opens the door to improved beef tenderness and increased consumer acceptance of beef.

Preferred carcass size and quality:Research demonstrates that Angus sires can be selected to produce progeny that have an increased ability to grade AAA without compromising feed efficiency or animal growth - and without increasing yield grade at the expense of carcass quality. Coupled with the American Angus Association's comprehensive management programs and innovative services, this market demand has been bolstered by the breed's proven ability to fulfil shifting consumer expectations. High demand, plus high-quality genetics and programs that transfer value from pasture to plate, give producers a product - and the profit - they desire.​

Selection Made Simple:The Angus breed's genetic merit alone provides producers with exceptional value; however, much of the breed's practical advantage lies in its predictability - the ability to identify the traits you desire, predict how your product will perform and get the most for your money. For years, Angus breeders across the country have set their performance goals and kept meticulous records in order to identify superior animals. They weigh and measure their cattle at precise times and send performance records (including breeding, calving, weaning and yearling performance, as well as carcass data and ultrasound measurements) to the Association for processing. As a result, they've built a herd book and a database that provide unequalled genetic evaluations through accurate and reliable decision-making and management tools. These tools give producers the power to choose which animals in the vast Angus population are right for their herds.

Through expected progeny differences (EPDs), economically relevant & Value indexes and related programs, the Association has taken the guesswork out of breeding cattle. When cattlemen know more about the products they're producing, they can take control of their profits.

Uses

Angus are hardy, undemanding, adaptable, mature at around two years of age, and have a high carcass yield with marbled meat. They are good natured in comparison to several breeds but are more aggressive than the breeds such as the Hereford. Angus are used as beef cattle and are not used for milk intended for human consumption. As of the latter part of 2003 and 2004, the American fast food industry has assisted in a public relations campaign to promote the supposedly superior quality of beef produced from Angus cattle ("Angus Beef"). McDonalds is currently testing hamburgers made with Angus beef at six Los Angeles area restaurants and has said that customer response to the burgers has been positive. In 2006, Burger King released the "Angus Burger" nationally in the US, UK and Spain.

In another attempt to promote the consumption of beef from Angus cattle, the American Angus Association set up the "Certified Angus Beef" brand in 1978. The goal of this brand is to promote the idea that Angus beef is of higher quality than beef from other breeds of cattle. In order for beef to be considered "Certified Angus Beef", it must come from cattle that are at least 51% black in colouration and exhibit Angus-like characteristics.

Standards of Excellence

EPDs and $Value

Utilising Association records, EPDs give cattlemen the tools to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their herds and to compare animals. EPDs use the differences expressed among animals within herd contemporary groups to formulate predictions of how future progeny of each animal will perform relative to the progeny of other animals. The tools are typically expressed in units of measure for the trait, plus or minus.

There are numerous EPDs reported by the Association, including production, maternal, carcass and ultrasound predictions, and accuracy values depicting the reliability of each EPD are available. The more progeny measured from a sire, the more accurate his genetic evaluations.

Much like EPDs, $Values can be used to estimate how future progeny of each sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires. However, $Values go a step further in simplifying genetic selection decisions by evaluating several traits at once and calculating important economic considerations. These bioeconomic selection tools, expressed in dollars per head, combine multiple traits into one value and measure trade-offs for producers based on real-world economics. $Values are calculated using EPDs, industry-based economic values and a system of equations to tie genetic and economic values together.

The calculation and publication of both EPDs and $Values rely on records maintained through Beef Improvement Records (BIR), a program established to assist both purebred and commercial cattle producers in making progress through genetics. Through BIR's Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) program, purebred breeders submit extensive performance records, which are then stored along with millions of other records in the Association's database. These values are used to calculate reliable selection tools that can be utilised by anyone interested in Angus genetics.

AHIR's commercial counterpart, the Beef Record Service (BRS), provides commercial cattlemen with a similar opportunity to record and submit performance data on cow and calf crops, regardless of breed composition. Records are summarised to provide adjusted measures and ratios that allow you to evaluate within - herd data and work toward a higher - quality, more marketable product. The valuable information derived from BRS gives commercial cattlemen knowledge they can use to their advantage - knowledge that allows them to identify program strengths, improve upon their herds and, in the end, garner higher premiums.

While performance data, production records and herd summaries allow commercial cattle producers to make directional changes within their herds and improve productivity, documented information can prove to be an invaluable marketing tool as well.

AngusSource®, a program available through the American Association, gives producers the opportunity to collect on the true value of their Angus - sired feeder calves and replacement females and capitalise on superior genetics and management protocols. The multifaceted program allows you to identify your cattle as Angus - not just black - while providing buyers with source, genetic and group age information. AngusSource® cattle must be sired by registered Angus bulls, enrolled by the ranch of origin and identified by group age. Once enrolled, producers simply identify calves with official AngusSource® program tags.

An AngusSource® Document - including contact information for the ranch of origin, group age, and a list of sires and their EPDs and $Values - is available for each lot of enrolled cattle. Producers may choose to include additional information on the document, such as past group performance, health, and marketing location and date. This information can be shown to potential buyers and livestock auctions to promote the value of identified cattle. And, with today's changing animal health policies and increased effects to identify an animal from birth to harvest, the more documented information, through programs like AngusSource®, the better.

Angus in Your Herd

Given the genetics, extensive database, vast selection tools, management and marketing programs, Angus can prove a good fit for almost any commercial cattle operation. Whether using a crossbreeding or straight-breeding system, Angus cattle will work for you.

CrossbreedingDepending on the environment and available resources, many cattlemen utilise crossbreeding in their herds to provide heterosis or hybrid vigour. With a carefully planned breeding program, heterosis can provide enhanced performance in low-heritable traits, such as calf survival, beyond the average of the parental breeds that originated the cross. However, implementing an effective crossbreeding system requires careful planning. Overuse of breeds with too much growth, mature size or birth weight can lead to future problems and unwanted extremes.

When a crossbreeding program is conducted properly, Angus genetic advantages provide balance on almost every level.​

Straight-breedingProducers wanting a more simplified approach for raising cattle turn to straight-breeding. Without the intensive management requirements of crossbreeding, straight bred operations can utilise the Association's extensive performance database to select cattle tailored to their needs. Properly selected straight bred Angus cows provide ample milk and calving ease, while steers earn top prices and provide high performance in the feedlot and on the rail - without the extremes. Producers can apply selection pressure to provide excellent replacement heifers for their own herds or to earn growing premiums paid for Angus - influenced feeder calves.

While there's no one best way to operate a practical, profitable commercial beef cattle operation, registered Angus used in an effective crossbreeding or straight-breeding system will yield clear-cut results.

Characteristics

The breed's excellence and the environment to which it is best suited, numerically, Angus is the biggest beef breed in the world. This is due to its undisputed merits and outstanding characteristics.

The following traits are the reasons why the breed is so popular in commercial cattle farming:

Calving EaseThe breed is famous for its small calves at birth. The average birth mass of Angus calves is 35.1 Kg (2004 birth statistics of the ARC).

High FertilitySince 1980, the breed has achieved the highest fertility levels of the ten biggest breeds in the National Beef Performance Testing Scheme. The breed is renowned for its high fertility under all circumstances. The breed also reaches maturity at a very early age (8-12 months), which means that they can calve for the first time at an early age. Of the 13 major breeds in the Scheme during the period 1980 - 90, Angus had the lowest average age at first calving, namely 32 months.

Polled FactorThis trait is increasing in importance due to the elimination of dehorning and carcass injuries. When Angus bulls are used in a crossbreeding system, approximately 90% of the progeny is polled.

Fixed Colour PatternPrivate research in Natal has shown that weaner calves with a fixed colour pattern achieved a higher price per Kg compared to odd-coloured weaners. Angus offers a fixed colour pattern and a choice between red and black. This is still an underestimated trait. Just think about the colour pattern of some commercial herds, especially in poorly planned crossbreeding systems, and colour uniformity is much more preferable.

Excellent Maternal TraitsWorldwide, Angus is recognised as one of the best mother cow lines due to their good milk production, high fertility, low maintenance requirements and functional udders with small teats. Angus cows are not fastidious grazers and are excellent utilisers of any type of roughage.

Overall PigmentationAngus is a breed with fully pigmented eyes and udders, meaning that disease such as eye cancer does not occur. Angus is also the only breed that is free from snow-burnt udders during snow-covered North American winters.

A Worldwide Gene PoolBecause numerically Angus is the biggest breed in the world, the gene pool is unlimited. The American Angus Association alone had more than 12 million registered animal records at the end of 1996. Semen can be imported from the USA, Canada, Argentina, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In Argentina, more than 70% of the cattle are Angus or crossbred Angus.​Good GrowthThey reach puberty at an early age. Angus bulls give high conception rates under heavy working loads and achieve a compact calving spread.

Angus cows have been selected for moderate size and the ability to maintain production under tough commercial conditions. Modern Angus cattle have a range of mature size to suit a range of needs.

Trials in northern and southern Australia have shown that Angus cattle are early finishing with good growth, eye muscle and yield. CRC crossbreeding research in northern Australia over Brahman cows shows that Angus has more marbling and the highest MSA eating quality results when compared to other breed crosses.

In the Southern Crossbreeding Project conducted in South Australian and Victorian researchers,Angus cross calves had the lowest birth weights, similar growth to weaning and in the feedlot, finished earliest and produced the most marbling. Modern Angus steers and heifers have the potential to suit a wide range of markets, both export and domestic.

Calving Ease

For many beef herds, calving difficulty is the largest single cause of calf loss. These losses add up over time, costing the beef industry an estimated $750 million annually. Calving difficulty results in increased cow mortality, increased calving intervals, lower conception rates, reduced weaning tonnage and severe economic losses that can cripple an operation. Fortunately, the Angus breed and its genetic tools offer producers some viable alternatives.

According to calving scores submitted to the American Angus Association, approximately 91% of all calves born to purebred Angus first-calf heifers required no assistance, and 99% of cows calved without assistance. Research trials conducted at the Roman L. Hruska U.S Meat Animal Research Centre (MARC) showed even more encouraging figures. In its Germplast Evaluation Program, the research centre found that out of the seven largest beef breeds, Angus achieved the highest percentage of unassisted calvings and the lowest calving difficulty scores.

In a 2002 - 2004 study conducted by the Iowa Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity, high-percentage Angus cattle from 12 states fed at eight Iowa feedlots returned $67.93 more per head than low-percentage Angus cattle due to carcass and performance advantages. Feedlot average daily gain (ADG) improved as the percentage of Angus increased, and net carcass premiums were almost $30 more per head for high-percentage Angus cattle.

Market Demand

Angus cattle receive price premiums in store sales, fat sales and specialist female sales. The price premiums reflect the demand for high performing feedlot cattle, especially for high-quality export markets. Many of the best and biggest lines of Angus steers are sold directly to feedlots. Angus are a truly international breed. They are the dominant breed in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Argentina. There is an immense pool of available genetics that will allow the breed to respond to new challenges and commercial demands.

Angus provides the greatest number of performance records of any beef breed in the world. Over 90 percent of registered Angus females in Australia are in herds participating in Angus Group BreedPlan. Estimated breeding values for eighteen fertility, calving ease, growth, maternal, efficiency and carcass traits assist breeders, to make the best possible decisions for their herd in their environment and market.

The Aberdeen - Angus became popular, was widely spread throughout Great Britain, and exported all over the world. Worldwide, the Aberdeen - Angus breed numbers 50 million animals. In America, Canada and Australia it is very popular - it is the primary beef breed in the USA and it is by far the most important beef breed in New Zealand. Furthermore, herdbooks have been established in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Brazil (1906), Argentina (1879) and South Africa.

Beef

Started in 1978, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) has more than 13 000 licensed partners. They include feedlot partners that help producers get the most out of their high - quality Angus sired cattle through focused management; more than 80% of U.S packaging facilities; licensed processors, distributors and exporters; and finally, restaurants and grocers. The brand is sold throughout the United States and in 30 international markets. It is the leading brand of premium beef, known for its exacting quality standards and built-in integrity.

CAB's mission is to continue developing a premium - quality beef supply, to track and monitor sales, to select strong licensed partners in distribution and sales, and to create and execute innovative marketing programs that grow demand for the brand. That mission, in turn, has increased demand for high-quality, registered Angus cattle and generates more than $50 million a year in premiums for producers. Since 2000, more than 500 million pounds of Certified Angus Beef ® product have been sold annually.

Market demand pays direct premiums to producers who sell on value grids. Licensed packers identify Angus-type cattle for USDA evaluation and certification. Licensed fabricators prepare product for distribution to retail, food service and international licensees. It is the only brand that tracks every pound of meat from initial identification through sales to consumers, ensuring they receive genuine Certified Angus Beef ® products.

Producers selling calves have also been positively affected by the strong demand for the brand. The CAB Here's the Premium" six-year study of thousands of cattle sold at auction in 10 states shows a growing advantage of $15 to $20 per head for known Angus genetics versus all others. Through CAB-licensed feedlots, producers can discover the continuing, post-weaning Angus advantage with performance and carcass data, genetic evaluation and access to top grids.

In Canada, the standards are evaluated and monitored by the Canadian Beef Grading Agency. To earn the Certified Angus Beef ® brand name, cattle must be predominantly solid black and meet these carcass requirements:

* Maturity (9 - 30 months of age)* Beef muscling characteristics and a neck hump of no more than 2 inches* Modest at abundant marbling (Prime and top 35% of choice), with medium to fine texture* USDA Yield Grade (YG) 3.9 or leaner* No evidence of capillary ruptures or dark cutter characteristics

Performance

Participation in the National Beef Performance Testing Scheme is important to the Society for the progress of the breed. Without measurement, both the present situation and the future direction are unknown.

When one looks at the various weights,dramatic movements have taken place in the Angus breed. Fertility remains the most important trait in any production system. Here too, good progress has been made - According to the 2004 Performance Test Results of the ARC. Considering cow mass and efficiency (weaning mass as a percentage of cow mass), Angus cows have increased in size but have become more efficient. This means more growth, but also more milk. Angus cows weaned an average of 44.4% of own mass, which is the same as the national average.

Summarising it can be said that Angus has made tremendous progress as a breed by maintaining birth mass below the national average, while other growth figures have improved dramatically above national averages. The breed's unsurpassed fertility has also improved. Research on the feed requirements for maintenance of four different breed types of cows indicated that Angus and Hereford had lower maintenance requirements than other breeds, despite a much bigger difference in actual cow mass. This proves the point that Angus is a low maintenance, top mother cow breed.

International Influences:

America

The first Angus in America:When George Grant transported four Angus bulls from Scotland to the middle of Kansas prairie in 1873, they were part of the Scotsman's dream to have found a colony of wealthy, stock - raising Britishers. Grant died five years later, and many of the settlers at his Victoria, Kansas colony later returned to their homeland. However, these four Angus bulls, probably from the herd of George Brown of Westertown, Fochabers, Scotland, made a lasting impression on the US cattle industry.

When two of the George Grant bulls were exhibited in the fall of 1873 at the Kansas City (Missouri) Livestock Exposition, some considered them "freaks" because of their polled "naturally hornless" heads and solid black colour (Shorthorns were then the dominant breed). Grant, a forward thinker, crossbred the bulls with native Texas Longhorn cows, producing a large number of hornless black calves that survived well on the winter range. The Angus crosses wintered better and weighed more the next spring, the first demonstration of the breed's value in their new homeland.

Early Importers and Breeders:The first great herds of Angus beef cattle in America were built up by purchasing stock directly from Scotland. Twelve hundred cattle alone were imported, mostly to the Midwest, in a period of explosive growth between 1878 and 1883. Over the next quarter of a century these early owners, in turn, helped start other herds by breeding, showing, and selling their registered stock.

Angus are solid black, although white may appear on the udder. They are resistant to harsh weather, undemanding, adaptable, good natured, mature extremely early and have a high carcass yield with nicely marbled meat. Angus are renowned as a carcass breed. They are used widely in crossbreeding to improve carcass quality and milking ability. Angus females calve easily and have good calf rearing ability. They are also used as a genetic dehorner as the polled gene is passed on as a dominant characteristic.

The American Aberdeen - Angus Breeders' Association (named shortened in the 1950s to American Angus Association) was founded in Chicago, Illinois, on November 21, 1883, with 60 members. The growth of the association has paralleled the success of the Angus breed in America. In the first century of operation, more than 10 million head were recorded. The American Angus Association records more cattle each year than any other beef breed association, making it the largest beef breed registry association in the world.

Australia

Angus Australia maintains pedigree and performance information on both black and red Angus cattle. Red Angus cattle that are the progeny of Australian Herd Book animals or trace back to imported animals from a recognised overseas Herd Book can be recorded in the Australian Angus Herd Book.

In addition, straight bred Red Angus and red gene carriers can be recorded in the Red Angus Register or the Angus Performance register. Red Angus animals which are registered with Angus Australia are eligible for inclusion in Angus Group BreedPlan. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) for red Angus animals are directly comparable to EBVs for black Angus animals. Angus Group BreedPlan incorporates related data from animals recorded with the American Red Angus Association and the Canadian Angus Association.

Canada

Angus animals arrived in Montreal, Quebec in 1860 and some landed in Victoria, BC in 1874. The first recorded importation was in 1859 by Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. No progeny was recorded, therefore credit for the first productive importation was given to Professor WM Brown at the Ontario Experimental Farm in Guelph, Ontario. "The first of the breed born in North America" is commemorated on a bronze plaque in Guelph recognising the birth of Eye Bright 2nd on January 12, 1877, sired by the bull Gladiolus.

In 1882 there were 323 Angus imported from Scotland. The Hon. MH. Cochrand had his headquarters in Montreal and a ranch in Alberta. He purchased ten animals from Scotland in 1881 for the tremendous sum of $9 975. These were the days when top bulls were selling for $300. The town of Cochrane, just west of the city of Calgary, received its name from this early booster of Aberdeen - Angus cattle.

By 1884, the Dominion Polled Angus Herd registry was established in Toronto. An unfortunate fire in 1894 destroyed all Aberdeen - Angus manuscripts. Circulars were sent to all breeders in an attempt to reconstruct the records. A large number were secured and sent in, but many others were lost. In 1905, the records were nationalised and the recording office moved from Toronto to Ottawa. Breeders decided to form the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association to be incorporated under the Dominion Act respecting Livestock Records Association. The Association chose not to recognise the Old Herd Register but to register all living animals. All animals to be registered had to pass a standard inspection by an authorised inspector, Mr James Bowman of Guelph, Ontario. Expenses were paid by the Department of Agriculture. He reviewed the records and pedigrees of all Angus cattle in Canada and provided the data for the first Canadian Aberdeen-Angus Herd Book, published in 1908.

Our association had a rocky start when two factions, one in the east and the other in the west disagreed on the need for a Canadian Association. The same situation affected other breeds and was resolved only when a suggestion was approved to have one organisation formed where all breeds could register. Canadian National Livestock Records was formed and located in Ottawa. Our Registry remained in Ottawa for ninety years until 1996, when the association assumed responsibility and transferred the records to its office in Calgary.

When the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association was formed, all officials and directors were from Western Canada and the breed office was established in Winnipeg. The Constitution and Bylaws were approved at a meeting in Brandon, Manitoba on March 1, 1906, and formally accepted by the minister of agriculture in Ottawa on July 11, 1906. The "Canadian Aberdeen-Angus Breeders Association" was incorporated May 4, 1906. The first Annual meeting was held in Winnipeg, July 1906, with the first president, Hon. W. Clifford, of Manitoba.

The head office of the association did not remain in Winnipeg, it moved to Brandon in 1911, Calgary in 1947, then to Guelph in 1964, to Regina in 1988 and back to Calgary in 1995.

The Canadian Association register both Black and Red Angus. The first herd book specifically excluded males red in colour, but red females were permitted. However, in 1921 the bylaws were amended to exclude all red animals. Red animals kept occurring in herds and several breeders sought to have them included in the herd book established in 1954 by the Red Angus Association of America. The annual meeting of the association in 1967, approved a motion that red animals be eligible for registration. This was officially approved by the minister of agriculture of Canada on April 3, 1968. The Canadian Angus Association strives to ensure the accuracy of data used in the national cattle evaluation; however, the association assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of data submitted.

The Aberdeen - Angus Breed has a tradition in Canada going back over 130 years. Today all Angus registration papers are processed through the Canadian Angus Association office in Calgary, Alberta. All animals registered in the Canadian Herd Book are 100 percent purebred.

Angus can be found throughout all provinces and territories in Canada, meaning access to cattle is excellent. Strong commercial demand ensures the basic traits of mothering, muscling and marbling is kept in the forefront.

Canadian Angus has seen dramatic growth in the past few years, and international interest in our genetics continues to grow. Canadian Angus have been exported with great success to all five continents and are generally regarded to be of superior quality in global genetic circles.

Artificial Insemination

Some of the important points to remember when performing AI:

* All bulls to be used in AI must have an official blood or DNA type* All bulls from which semen is collected for use in AI must be parentage verified to the extent possible* In order to register a calf resulting from AI, both the sire and the dam must be registered. If a cow is re-bred with semen from a different sire within 14 days of the previous service, the owner is required to report both services* A semen transfer form must be completed whenever the semen of a privately owned bull is transferred to another breeder. It is the responsibility of the seller of the semen to have the semen transfer processed

Shipping Blood Samples

* After the sample has been collected, wrap each vial separately in enough paper towel to ensure that if it leaks or breaks, the liquid will be absorbed* Put wrapped vials in the container and stuff the top to ensure no movement of vials* Put the lid on the container and tape it closed. Put the mailing label on the outside of the container* Put the container into a box or bubble envelope, making sure the container is not going to move around in shipment* Clearly label the outside of the envelope "BOVINE BLOOD"* Ensure that the envelope or box is closed with waterproof tape

Collecting Hair Samples

Collect hair from the tip of the tail (swatch). Make sure that the tip of the tail is very clean (free from urine or manure). Dirty samples will not be processed. If collecting more than one sample or sampling different animals, make sure to clean hands, comb and brushes between animals to minimise cross contamination. Comb or brush the tail to remove dead hair (no follicle).

Wrap about five (5) hair strands around your finger, about 2 inches (5 cm) away from the skin, and give a sharp pull. Inspect the hair and make sure the follicles are still attached to the hair shafts (hair with no follicles cannot be processed). Pull about 20 hairs per animal.

Secure the hairs together with adhesive tape, about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the follicles. Place the samples into an envelope and seal immediately to minimise contamination. Place one sample per envelope. Identify the hair sample by writing on the envelope the name, tattoo number and registration number of the animal to be tested. Attach the completed DNA form to the sample envelope. Place the hair sample envelope in a larger envelope and mail.

Embryo Transfer

Some of the important points to remember are:

It is recommended that all females which are to be used as donor females in Embryo Transfer should hold parentage verification. Calves from Embryo Transplants will be registered on the same terms as calves from natural or artificial mating except that a blood type or DNA report of the sire and donor dam must be on file with the Association. All recipient dams must be identified by a tattoo or ear tag.

Parentage verification is required on one calf from each single sire embryo flush. Each calf from a multiple sire flush must be parentage verified. It is recommended the donor cow be inseminated with semen from one bull per flush. For conditions of a multiple sire flush, breeders should consult their handbook.

Embryos imported from foreign countries must have both the sire and donor dam registered with the local association before application for registration of the ET calf will be accepted.

Timeline

Aberdeen Angus breed highlights since 1863:

1863 - First show and sale of Aberdeen - Angus bulls at Perth

1867 - Black Prince becomes the first Aberdeen - Angus steer to win the supreme championship at the Royal Smithfield Show

1959 - Record price of 25 000gns paid for Elevate of Eastfield at Perth

1963 - Record price of 60 000gns paid for Lindertis Evulse at Perth

1977 - World Aberdeen - Angus Forum - Scotland

1979 - Centenary of the Aberdeen - Angus Cattle Society

1998 - Record average of £3 402 at Perth

2004 - Record average of £4 177 at Perth

2006 - Record average of £4 321 at Perth

2007 - Record average of £4 357 at Perth with a record clearance ratio of 73%

Red Angus

History

The origin of Red Angus had its beginning in the mother country - the British Isles. In tracing the origin of the red type Angus we must turn the pages of the past to the eighth century.

According to some authorities hardy Norsemen, raiding the coasts of England and Scotland, brought with them a small, dun-coloured, hornless cattle. These cattle, interbreeding with black native Celtic cattle of inland Scotland, which had upright horns, produced a naturally polled black breed. Eric L.C. Pentecost, the noted English breeder of Red Angus cattle, offers a more specific and logical explanation for the introduction of the red colouration into the Aberdeen - Angus breed. He traces it to the spread of the Norfork husbandry system to Scotland in the eighteenth century. The black Scottish cattle were too light to provide sufficiently large draught oxen. Accordingly, larger English longhorns, predominantly red in colour, were brought in and crossed with the black native polled breed. The resultant offspring were all black polled animals since black is a dominant colour and red is a recessive one. All, however, carried the red gene, and subsequently, interbreeding produced an average of one red calf in four, according to Mendel's laws of heredity.

Summarising this rule of genetics, so important to the cattle breeder, we find: Black, possessing no red gene, mated with red brings black offspring, black being the dominant colour, and red recessive. Red calves occur only:* when both parents are red, or* when one parent is red and the other is black, carrying a red gene, or* when both parents are black, but each carrying a red gene.

This third situation is the case when red calves appear in purebred black herds. The chances are one in four for the production of a red calf when mating two blacks carrying red genes.

Early in the development of the Aberdeen - Angus, Hugh Watson of Keillor, Scotland, arbitrarily decided that black was the proper colour for the breed and by that started a fashion. He could have chosen red instead.

Characteristics

Red Angus cattle have all the attributes of Angus. Females are fertile and hardy with good milking and foraging ability. They grow quickly and produce excellent carcasses which marble at similar levels to black Angus. They provide market flexibility and meat quality in straight bred and crossbred progeny.

Demand

Apart from their straight-bred value, red Angus have been popular in many crossbreeding situations. Crossed over cattle with red coat colour, the calves are red which helps produce even sale lines. Red Angus have been used widely with Santa Gertrudis, Droughtmaster, Brahman, Hereford and red European breed cows to breed polled cattle and increase fertility, meat quality and market flexibility.

Northern Australia pastoral giant, Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), used Red Angus to produce their "Gulf Composite". North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCO) used Red Angus to produce their "Kyuna Composite".

The Red Gene:Coat colour in Angus cattle is controlled by one pair of genes. The black colour is dominant and the red colour is recessive. For this reason, red animals only appear when two red genes are present. A black animal may have only one black gene or may carry one black and one red gene. Because the black gene dominates, animals with both genes appear black. Red cattle will always have red calves when mated to each other. Black cattle may have red calves. Red calves will only appear from black parents when both of the parents are carriers of the red gene and an animal inherits a copy of the red gene from both parents. If two red gene carrier animals (black) are mated, then on average, 25% of the progeny are expected to be red, 25% black non - carrier animals and 50% should be black carrier animals. If a red gene carrier (black) is mated to a red animal, then on average, 50% of the calves would be red and the other 50% red gene carrier animals (black).

A DNA test is available to detect whether a black animal carries a copy of the red gene. Angus cattle tested as carriers of the red gene are identified by TC (test carrier) at the end of their registered name. Angus cattle tested to be free of the red gene are identified by TNC (tested non-carrier) at the end of their name.